The impact of socioeconomic status and race on the outcomes of congenital heart disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Studying the outcomes of congenital heart disease and their associations allows paediatric cardiologists and intensivists to improve the care and health equity of their patients. This review presents the most recent literature discussing the socioeconomic and racial disparities that pervade the outcomes of patients with congenital heart disease in every facet of treatment. The outcomes of congenital heart disease discussed are prenatal detection, maintenance of care, quality of life, neurodevelopment and mortality.

RECENT FINDINGS

Historically, it has been documented that patients with congenital heart disease who are of racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately experience poor outcomes. Recently, the association between racial minorities and mortality has been traced to underlying socioeconomic disparities emphasizing that race and ethnicity are not independent determinants of health.

SUMMARY

The effect of socioeconomic status on the outcomes of congenital heart disease is profound and reaches beyond the association with racial and ethnic minorities. Changes to address these disparities in outcomes must be made at the individual, institutional, community and system levels.